Abstract

Background

To evaluate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in a population-based cohort, and to analyse the association between gender, environmental conditions, C-reactive protein (CRP), and the syndrome.

Methods

Out of 1877 subjects aged 45–64, who represented all the patients of six family physicians, representative of the sanitary districts of Asti (north-western Italy), 88% accepted to participate in an interview on personal habits, and several clinical and laboratory measurements.

Results

The MS (National Cholesterol Education Program criteria) was present in 24% of males and 22% of females. Males had a significantly higher percentage of hyperglycaemia, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, whereas females had a higher prevalence of central obesity and low HDL-cholesterol. In a multiple logistic regression model, the MS was significantly associated with increasing age, BMI, and >30 g/day alcohol intake (OR = 1.42; 95% CI 1.27–1.58), and negatively to higher education level (OR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.28–0.99) and moderate exercise (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.57–0.76). CRP levels are highly correlated to BMI and the components of the syndrome. The association between CRP and the MS remains significant in women only, in a multivariate analysis, after multiple adjustments (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.42–2.11). Higher CRP levels, correlated to smoking and, inversely, to alcohol intake, identify a further 12% of the cohort at higher cardiovascular risk.